Satellite-based prediction of forest loss in Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study set to evaluate the recent forest cover of Oluwa forest and its future status. The 18-year interval (2002 and 2020) land cover maps used in this study were produced using Landsat images for these years. The image processing and analysis were carried out in Idrisi environment. CA-Markov analysis was run in Idrisi software to test a pair of land cover images and outputs a transition probability matrix and a transition areas matrix for the analysis and prediction of forest cover Results showed that there was a continuous increase in forest cover and decrease in non-forest area. Degraded forest increased from 3.7% in 2002 to 3.92%in 2020. Projection revealed that the forest reserve will experience increase in forest cover by about 0.1% in 2038. It also showed a projected gain of 0.39% and 0.98% forest loss (from degraded and non-forest areas in 2038. This development poses severe ecological disorder as such would alter surface energy balance. To avert this ecological threat, the activities of loggers and other anthropogenic activities within the study area should be checked.